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Modular Vaccine Platform

Vaccine Platform Technology

Key highlights
  • Self Adjuvanting: CPMV acts as an adjuvant and epitope display and delivery technology, designed to deliver antigens to draining lymph nodes and dendritic cells ​
  • Validated platform: CPMV-based vaccine candidates for cancer (HER2, NY-ESO-1) and infectious disease (HPV, COVID-19)  have been validated​
  • Externally supported: NSF and NIAID supported​
  • Superior “cold chain” stable at room temperature​
  • Self-administration potential: proprietary trans-dermal delivery patch and dermal implant provide unique delivery platform ​
  • Single administration potential: slow release of antigen results in sustained immune response​
  • Rapid response: Potential to deliver candidates in a matter of weeks​
  • Highly scalable: Existing technologies are available
  • Highly adaptable system: should mutants or new strains emerge, the peptides can be updated
  • Precisely controlled and targeted immune response tailored to the epitope of interest
  • Cocktails incorporating multiple immunogenic domains can be produced
  • Rational design and choice of peptide targets can also mitigate risks compared to other technologies (such as limiting possible risk of ADE (antibody-dependent enhancement) or Th2 immunopathology).
Based on their immune-stimulatory properties and size, CPMV nanoparticles are ideal for the delivery of subunit vaccines to the draining lymph nodes where they stimulate antigen processing by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The CPMV nanoparticle system is more than just a delivery platform; it also acts as an adjuvant that stimulates the immune system. The technology uses a plug-and-play approach in which antigen targets can easily be exchanged as mutations, new strains, and/or novel infectious disease pathogens emerge.
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  • The platform is based on the CPMV nanoparticle (Core Development Molecule). 

  • By using a single core base, development activities can be streamlined. 

  • This approach also allows Mosaic to simultaneously move multiple programs forward, designed to meet unmet medical needs.

Viral Vaccine Applications

CPMV acts as an adjuvant and an epitope display platform. For viral applications, an easily identified and produced viral peptide is linked to our CPMV nanoparticle to produce a vaccine candidate. This combination of a potent immune stimulant with a target epitope is designed to induce immune cells to recognize the viral antigen and mount a lasting immune response to stay on guard against future exposure. This technology platform has been validated for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, as well as human papilloma virus, (HPV). This research has and is been supported by NSF and NIAID.

Cancer Vaccine Applications
 

Similar to our viral vaccine technology, preclinical studies have demonstrated anti-tumor protection using our core technology as part of cancer vaccines in both prophylactic and therapeutic studies. By introducing a tumor antigen linked to CPMV, the immune system becomes trained and on guard against future development of cancers. Our research targeting HER-2 or NY-ESO-1 has shown promising results in preclinical models of breast cancer.

Modular Vaccine Platform (MVP)

Rapid and versatile vaccine design
  • CPMV and the peptide(s) of choice are linked together, creating the vaccine construct
  • As mutations emerge, the peptides can be easily updated
  • Multiple differing peptides can be utilized for multivalent vaccine candidates
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CPMV      
Vaccine delivery devices
CPMV vaccine candidates can be blended into slowly degradable polymers and injection molded into micro-needle patches or dermal implant devices. Injection molding is a scalable method to manufacture polymeric devices at low cost. The polymers are chosen for slow release of the vaccine candidate over the course of months, potentially providing long-term protection. The slow release of the vaccine is designed to provide boosts of the immune system to be effective after a single administration. Once realized, these devices can be shipped without refrigeration and potentially be self-applied.
peptide
linking technology
vaccine candidate

Preclinical data assessing MVP-generated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates  

Statistically significant antibody production
Utilizing the modular vaccine platform for design and delivery, researchers identified and produced peptides from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, linked the peptides to CPMV, and incorporated the construct into micro-needle polymer administration patches as described above. In preclinical studies, these four unique constructs all produced antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 peptides. The next step, virus neutralization assays, are underway. This research is externally supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Nicole F. Steinmetz, 2020. AACR Virtual Meeting: Covid-19 and Cancer

Preclinical data assessing MVP-generated HER2+ breast cancer vaccine  

Statistically significant tumor growth inhibition, survival, and immune memory
The efficacy of an MVP-based cancer vaccine is demonstrated here in activating a potent anti-HER2 immune response that delays progression of primary tumors as well as metastases and prolongs survival in mice. The results illustrate that the MVP-based vaccine induces HER2-specific antibodies as well as effector and memory T cells, which contributes to the effectiveness of the vaccine.
This study demonstrates the potency of a nanoparticle CPMV-based HER2 vaccine to induce a strong and sustained anti-HER2 immune response. The efficacy of this vaccine to regress tumor growth and prolong survival is then illustrated using primary and metastatic mice models of HER2 positive cancer. Given the simplicity of design and manufacturing, such therapeutic vaccines based on the biocompatible CPMV platform technology could offer cost effective and potent alternatives to current adjuvant therapies.
Shukla, Steinmetz et al: A Viral Nanoparticle Cancer Vaccine Delays Tumor Progression and Prolongs Survival in a HER2+TumorMouse Model. Advanced Therapeutics 2019,2, 1800139
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